Roberts and Moder (in New York City in February) "are a very happy, supportive couple," says Platt. Photo by: HUMBERTO CARRENO / STARTRAKS
Julia Takes Center Stage
So far Three Days' audiences are responding to Roberts just as warmly – her first lines each night are drowned in applause. And like Hollywood imports Nicole Kidman, Denzel Washington and Hugh Jackman before her, Roberts's star power means big box office: Its 12-week run is nearly sold out, and scalped tickets are going for as much as $600. Says Shubert organization head Gerald Schoenfeld, a Three Days producer: "We are delighted to have her." Roberts, too, is elated, but exhausted. "I joked to my husband," she told Playbill, "(telling him) 'I will, in the next six months, work harder than I have in the last five years combined, including childbirth!'"

When she finishes Three Days in June, Roberts will go back to full-time parenting. And Hollywood? This fall she'll film the drama Charlie Wilson's War with Tom Hanks but isn't reuniting with pal George Clooney for the upcoming Ocean's 13. Not that she minds. "She laughs a lot," says Playbill staff reporter Harry Haun, who interviewed Roberts before her Broadway debut. "I got the impression she's gotten to the top of the mountain and now she's interested in doing good work."

And being a good mom. "Julia is very careful about how she manages her time so she can raise her children, which is what she wants to do more than anything," says Platt. (And does Roberts want to raise more children? Her rep declines to comment.) "Her perspective is, 'I want to be a great mom, I want to do interesting work when I can, I'm determined to do it all and make it work.' And she will."

• By Jason Lynch. KC Baker, Mary Green and Natasha Stoynoff in New York City, Lycia Naff in Los Angeles and Tom Collins in New Mexico